Sarai Amanat Khan – Built by Mughals in 1640, Sarai Amanat Khan is a fantastic remnant of ancient architecture. It once served travelers on the Agra-to-Lahore trade route and was a prosperous pit stop.

Ranjit's Svaasa hotel – The main lounge at Ranjit's Svaasa, a 200-year-old heritage hotel in Amritsar, is decorated with antique pieces and art from the family's personal collection.

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Story highlights

India's Punjab state is home to the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion, the Golden Temple

Every evening at the border, Indian, Pakistani guards join in a flag lowering ceremony

For heritage stays, Amritsar's Ranjit Svaasa hotel has been around for 200 years

World-renowned chef, best-selling author and Emmy-winning television personality Anthony Bourdain returns September 28 for the fourth season of "Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown." Follow the show on Twitter and Facebook.

(CNN)When it comes to India travel, the state of Punjab, which borders Pakistan, doesn't make it to the top of that many itineraries.

That's good news for intrepid travelers.

From temples so gold they'll make your eyes water, to food you'll be longing for days after it hits your lips, Punjab is India at its colorful, lively best.

There's always a long queue to enter the Golden Temple's inner sanctum, which contains the holiest of all Sikh texts, the "Guru Granth Sahib."

1. Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple)

Located in Amritsar, the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion, Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), is Punjab's top attraction.

Reflections of its gold-encrusted dome shimmer in the clear water of the Amrit Sarovar (Pool of Nectar), which greets those who enter from the north gate, the most impressive of all four entries.

To take it all in, it's best to simply walk around the marble pathway surrounding the pool.